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October 25, 2019

Regenerative strategies for osteoarthritis: Jonathan Finnoff, D.O.

By Jennifer Schutz

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. While the significant pain, limited activity, and decreased quality of life that affect patients with osteoarthritis can usually be managed, the damage to joints can't be reversed.

“One regenerative medicine option for those suffering from
osteoarthritis is the use of platelet rich plasma, or PRP,” says Dr. Finnoff. “While
there is mounting evidence that PRP injections may reduce pain and improve
function in people with osteoarthritis, we think we can make it better;
therefore, we’re looking to developing a safer, more effective alternative PRP treatment
option.”

PRP is made using a patient’s own blood. After the blood is
drawn, it is spun in a centrifuge which separates the cells and blood into
different layers. The concentrated layer of platelets, which is used for PRP, contains
proteins that are involved in the healing process and may also decrease
inflammation; however, PRP also contains some proteins that might trigger
inflammation of the breakdown of tissue.

“Our study involves trying to remove the inflammatory
proteins and those that might be involved in breaking down tissues from the PRP
so it has a stronger anti-inflammatory and healing affect,” says Dr. Finnoff.
“This is done by attaching proteins to tiny beads that bind to the proteins
that we want to remove from the PRP.”

Once a patient’s PRP product is developed, researchers will
then inject the new “purified PRP” back into the injured area to see if it is
effective to relieve osteoarthritis symptoms.

“Right now we treat osteoarthritis symptomatically with
weight loss, diet, exercise, braces, nutritional supplements, medications,
injections, and joint replacement surgery,” says Dr. Finnoff. “If we can
harness the healing potential of our body more effectively, we may be able to
slow the progression of arthritis or even reverse its course, revolutionizing
the treatment of osteoarthritis.”